Pool project costs make big ripples

RUMOURS that council tax payers could be faced with a hefty bill for Llandudno’s £6 million new swimming pool going over budget have been allayed after councillors were reluctant to discuss the matter in public.

RUMOURS that council tax payers could be faced with a hefty bill for Llandudno’s £6 million new swimming pool going over budget have been allayed after councillors were reluctant to discuss the matter in public.

The project is currently running 30 weeks behind schedule and there has been speculation that this could lead to an overspend of up to £1m.

The county council’s cabinet was due to discuss the issue last Thursday but it was felt by some members that because of the nature of some of the information, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting.

Despite a spirited plea from Cllr Keith Toy to air the matter in public, members voted to defer the discussion to a later date while advice is sought as to whether or not it should be held behind closed doors.

On Friday Llandudno Town Council’s community services committee expressed concern about the potential overspend and wants to know whether the county council or contractors Keir will have to foot the bill.

“The committee is asking whether there were penalty clauses in the contract given to Keir so they would have to meet the cost of the project going over the agreed contract period of 56 weeks.

“If this isn’t the case and local council tax payers have to meet the cost we would be very concerned. It seems there is something of a cover-up going on but we believe the public has the right to know what the cost implications of all this will be,” said chairman Cllr Brian Bertola.

In a report due to be presented to full council today, head of leisure and community development Paul Frost said there was likely to be financial implications to the delay in completing the contract but it was not yet possible to come up with a figure.

“The nature of the delays are under discussion with the contractor but it is foreseeable the project budget would be exceeded. As discussions with the contractor have not been concluded it is not possible to determine the degree of overspend,” he said.